Spray nozzle for fire extinguishing and other purposes



Feb. 18, 1947. P. J. SCHULTZ 2,416,226

SPRAY NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING AND OTHER PURPOSES Filed Sept. 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l IrzUenwi :2. J. SCHULTZ 1 E fiorw Feb. 18, 1947.

J. SCHULTZ 2,416,226 SPRAY NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTIN-GUISHING' AND OTHER PURPOSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1944 l l lllllllm HHIIIII! I l 1 l I mIlllllLlll l lizdenwn, PAUL J. SCHULTZ P. J. SCHULTZ SPRAY NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING AND OTHER PURPOSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29, 1944 PAUL J- SCHULTZ IIIIIII)IIIIIII, III/I Patented Feb. 18, 1947 SPRAY NOZZLE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHING AND OTHER PURPOSES Paul J. Schultz, Upper Darby, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to National Foam System, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application September 29, 1944, Serial No. 556,317 7 6 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to nozzles for fire fighting equipment and more particularly to an improved construction of spray nozzle which is specially adapted for the generation and projection of an extremely fine spray of water alone which issues in the form of a. mist or fog, or of water, charged with a suitable foam-forming material to produce what has been termed fog foam.

Compared with the more commonly used sprays employed in fire extinguishing, fogs, because they consist of much finer particles, are relatively slow in settling. A fog, therefore, that is directed in all directions away from the nozzle, tends to fill the chamber or space. The result is that portions of the fog may become lodged in upper portions of the space and, therefore, not be effective for fire extinguishment, for such portions may never reach the vicinity of the fire, commonly in the lower portions of a chamber.

The present invention, therefore, has for one .of its principal objects, to provide a fog nozzle which will prevent the fog from rising upwardly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fog nozzle which will produce a laterally directed sheet of fog. Thus, with the nozzle disposed at a level not far above the inflammable material under protection, such a sheet of fog will have the immediate effect of ablanket and will be highl efficacious.

For this purpose the nozzle of the present invention includes suitable deflecting elements which serve to spread the fog laterally so as to form a sheet of fog.

While the present invention may be employed in many protective installations, it is primarily designed for installation in the bilge of ships where fuel and other inflammables may be stored. For this purpose the present nozzle provides means for preventing the fog from being directed upwardly, and which have the effect of forming a lateral sheet of fog or a fog which is directed downwardly and outwardly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the said invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will appear from the detailed description which follows, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and as finally pointed out in the appended claims. In the said accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred construction and embodiment of the present invention,

' Figure 1 is an elevational view of the nozzle constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the nozzle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 4 is a top view of the form shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-45 of Figure 5; V

Figure '7 is a sectional view of the fog producing element; and I Figure 8 is a face view of the elements shown in Figure 7 with its cover plate removed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that the fog nozzle of the present invention, designated generally by the reference numeral I0, is adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the discharge end of a suitable conduit or tube through which is delivered the liquid, either water or water charged with foam-forming material, which is to be converted from a more or less solid stream thereof into the form of a cloud of minute particles resembling fog or mist. This fog-like cloud of minute or atomic particle of the liquid stream is formed in the atmosphere and immediatel as the same issues from the nozzle It] to provide a relatively dense cloud of fog which acts to envelop the flames and blanket the surface of the burning material from the air with the result that the fire is extinguished as the result of a smothering action.

In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, the nozzle ID of the present invention generally comprises a cup shaped main body member I I which is approximately hemispherical in shape. The open end of this hemispherical cup shaped body II is provided with threads I2 which receive the fitting I5, the latter being provided with the threaded nipple I6 for attachment to a suitable conduit which delivers water or water charged with foam-forming material.

In operation the nozzle head II becomes filled with the fog-forming material under high pressure. The interior face of the hollow nozzle head I I carries a plurality of fog-forming units which will be described in detail presently. Fo-rthis purpose the nozzle head II is produced with a series-of openings II, the axes of which preferably extend radially of the nozzle head II, the several openings being spaced approximately uniformly about the surface of the nozzle head .Il. Each of these openings carries a fog producing element It, one of these units being shown in the broken. away portion of the nozzle head H in Figure 2 of the drawings;

The construction of these elements It are shown in greater detail in Figures '7 and 8 of the drawings. Essentially, each of these elements I8 is in the form of a relatively small cup shaped member l9 having a sloping bottom and a cylindrical side wall 2!. The cup shaped member also has preferably integral therewith an exteriorly threaded nipple 22 which has a relatively large passage 23 in communication with the interior of the cup shaped member It. The cup shaped member I9 is also provided with a closure plate 24* held in assembly by the screws or pins 25 The cylindrical portion 2| has several circumferentially spaced slots or notches 24, each of which extends inwardly from the outer surface of the portion M in such a manner that the wall 25 of each such slot is tangential to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 2 l. 1

It will thusvbe apparent that the water or other such liquid stream which is forced through any one of the slots 24 into the interior of the cup shaped element 2| under pressure will be forced to partake of a whirling motion. This whirling action of the portion of the stream projected into the element 2! by way of each of the slots 24 induces a centrifugal action upon the whirling body of the liquid, in consequence of which the said whirling body of liquid disintegrates and separates into the form of minute atomic particles.

If desired, each of the elements may be provided with only a single one of said slots or notches 24, as where an extremely high degree of atomization of the liquid is not required, it being understood in this connection that by increasing the number of such slots for each nebulizer element, the Velocity of the whirling body of liquid within the chamber of the element is materially increased with consequent increase in the centrifugal force acting upon the confined whirling body of liquid.

Each of the openings H in the nozzle head ll is threaded and receives the nipple 22 of a fog- "forming element l8, thenipples being preferably j driven into the opening l1 sufilciently'so that their free ends are substantially flush with the outer face of the nozzle. head i I.

In operation the nozzle head H is filled with liquid under pressure. This liquid enters each of the fog forming units l8 by way of the slots 24 and is there subjected to the whirling action previously described and the liquid is discharged through the discharge openings '23 in the form of clouds of fog or mist of substantially uniform density.

It is to be understood, of course, that the immediate source of the liquid which is introduced into the whirl chambers I9 is that which is sup- 1 plied to the enlarged chamber, the liquid so contained in this enlarged member or reservoir being maintained under such constant pressure as to impart to the portions thereof which are pro- 1 jected into the said Whirl chambers, by way of ployed in the head of the nozzle.

the passages 24 formed in the side walls of the fog-producing elements, a velocity that is sufliciently high to develop the desired centrifugal force for the nebulization of the liquid stream.

The whirling stream, so developed in each of the i chambers is then, also under the influence of outwardly of said chamber by way of the discharge opening 23, this outward projection of the whirling bodyof liquid being facilitated by the flared inner portion 26 of the discharge opening. Inasmuch as the liquid which issues from each element i8 closely hugs the internal wall of the discharge 23 due to the action of centrifugal force, it will be apparent that almost immediately as the whirling body of liquid emerges from the outer extremity of the orifice and is so relieved of the centripetal force exerted thereon by the confining wall of the orifice, the particles thereof fly outwardly and away from the axis of the orifice and so form a finely divided spray which may be likened to ice or mist.

By so disposing the several fog-producing elements that their respective axes are outwardly divergent, it will be apparent that a plurality of fog clouds may be generated to cover an extended area in all directions radially of the longitudinal axis thereof. And by suitably relating the several axes of the fog-producing elements, it will further be apparent that the several banks or clouds of fog may be so intermingled or overlapped as to provide in effect a single mass of fog which may partake of a Variety of external shapes dependent upon the number and relative arrangement of the fog-producing elements em- In this connection, reference is made to applicants pending application Serial No. 525,870, and particularly to the description therein of the action of the fog-forming elements.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a fog nozzle which will prevent the fog from rising and which will preferably direct the fo radially outwardly and downwardly of the nozzle for use particularly in such confined zones as in the bilges of ships. For this purpose the nozzle shown in Figure 1 carries a deflection plate 30 which is preferably mounted on the top of the hemispherical nozzle head H by means of a screw or bolt 3i and a washer 32. The deflection plate preferably has a diameter that extends considerably beyond the confines of the nozzle head H and is provided with an annular series of openings 33 within that portion of the diskwhich is'disposed over the nozzle head i I. V

The spray which emerges from each opening I! is in the form of a diverging cone. The upper portions of this cone or fog will strike the deflection plate 35 and the fog will, therefore, be directed partly in the plane of the deflection plate 36 and partly outwardly and downwardly from the plate 38. ihe openings 33 serve to perm-it an influx of air into the space below the deflection plate 39. In the absence of such openings the fog flowing outwardly along the outer face of the deflection plate and flowing outwardly away from the nozzle head l I would cause a partial vacuum in the space between the deflection plate 36 and the nozzle head IL This partial vacuum would operate to reduce the speed of the fog andwould generally serve to impede the effectiveness of the apparatus. The openings 33 overcome this difficulty and permit the deflection plate to perform its desired function of directing the fog away from the upper portions of the chamber in Which it is installed without interfering with the speed of the fog and efiectiveness of the nozzle.

The cones of fog that issue from the nozzle head I I intersect one anotherand merge to form an annular zone of fog or mist surrounding the nozzle head II, the diameter of the deflection plate 39 being such that its outer marginal portion extends over into this zone where the cones of fog have merged. Thus, the underface of the outer portion of the deflection plate 30 is impinged upon by whirling and rapidly moving fog particles and are there deflected so that they travel outwardly and thence downwardly,

Figures 3 to 6, inclusive, show another form of the present invention. In the form shown in these figures, the nozzle All comprises a substantially cylindrical body provided with radial openings 4! which receive the fog-forming elements 18 as previously described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The nozzle head 49 is provided with an interiorly threaded outlet 42 for attachment to a conduit or tube which supplies extinguishing fluid under pressure to the nozzle head. The upper end of the nozzle head 40 is provided with a closure plate 43 which is threaded onto the corresponding end of the nozzle head 46. The closure plate 43 has a reduced portion 44 of an external diameter approximately the same as the external diameter of the nipple 42, The deflection plate 50 is mounted on the closure plate by means of screws 5! as shown and is provided with an annular series of openings '52 in the zone adjacent the nozzle head to. The lower face of the nozzle head 40 carries another deflection plate 53 which is similarly provided with openings 54 in the zone adjacent the nozzle end. Both deflection plates 50 and 53 are preferably circular and the plate 50 is preferably of substantially greater diameter than the plate 53. 1

The function of the apertures 52 and 54 in the deflection plates 50 and 53 respectively is the same as that described with reference to the apertures 33 in the deflection plate 30. The lower deflection plate '53 is large enough so that its peripheral portion is impinged upon continuously by the fog issuing from the openings 4|. As is illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 6, the angle of the cone of fog issuing from any particular opening 4! is such that it impinges upon the plates 59 and 53 immediately beyond the openings 52 and 54, respectively. Thus, substantially none of the fog escapes through the openings 52 or 54.

Figure 5 shows in dotted lines the transverse distribution of the cones of fog and it will be seen that in the transverse direction these cones intersect each other before they reach the edge of the plate 53. The plate 50 being of considerably greater diameter than the plate 53, its outer portion will also extend substantially beyond the zone where the cones intersect each other and merge into an annular body of fog.

The fog particles, therefore, impinge upon the deflection plates 55 and 53, these plates serving to direct the fog outwardly so as to produce therebetween an attenuated sheet of fog having a relatively wide spread in all directions about the nozzle head as. The amount of the fog which flows upwardly above the level of the upper plate 50 is minimized, that portion of the fog which is directed upwardly by the lower plate 53 being intercepted by the outer portion of the upper plate 55 and deflected by it radially outwardly. The result and effect of the combined reflecting action of the two plates 50 and 53 is such that the major portion of the fog will flow outwardly substantially in the form of a blanketing sheet of substantial horizontal area, the blanket of fog tending downwardly as it emerges radially from between the plates 50 and 53. Thus, the fog producing nozzle, of either of the forms herein before described, is effective particularly for installation in the bilge of a ship where it is essential to obtain a widely spread blanket of fire-extinguishing fog,

While the nozzle of the present invention is designed primarily for use in the production of socalled water fog, it is also equally adapted for the production of foam fog, in which case water suitably charged with foam-forming material is delivered under pressure to the nozzle head for discharge therefrom in the form of fire extinguishing foam. When producing foam fog by means of the nozzle of the present invention, the perforations in the deflector plate or plates thereof serve the important function of supplying additional air to the nebulized foam-forming liquid, such air being drawn from the surrounding atmosphere through the said apertures into the clouds of fog projected from the outlets of the fogproducing elements by the suction action induced in the immediate regions of said apertures as the result of the impingement and travel of the nebulized sprays along the inner surfaces of the imperforated portions of the deflecting plates.

While the nozzle of the present invention has been referred to herein as being adapted primarily for use in the production of a fog capable of extinguishing fires, it is apparent that its construction is such as to render it generally applicable for the production of finely atomized sprays of various liquids regardless of the particular use for which the latter is intended, and accordingly, it is to be understood that it it is not at all intended to limit the scope of the present invention by confining the nozzle to any particular use.

Also, it will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles of real spirit thereof, audit is accordingly intended to claim the present invention broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A fire extinguishin nozzle comprising an internally chambered nozzle head having an inlet for the introduction of liquid under pressure, said head also having a plurality of discharge orifices uniformly spaced about the central axis thereof, means carried by said head operatively associated with each of said orifices to effect the outward projection therefrom of a plurality of conical streams of finely atomized liquid; said orifices being relatively so arranged that each pair of adjoining streams intersect one another at points spaced uniformly from the discharge orifices in said head, and a deflection disk carried by the end of the head, adapted to intercept said conical streams throughout a circumferentially continuous annular zone radially spaced from said orifices whereby to create a suction zone between said orifices and said annular zone, and means for entraining air from atmosphere into said conical streams by the suction induced in said suction -means carried by said head operatively associated with each of said orifices to effect thevoutward projection therefrom of a plurality of conical streams of finely atomized liquid, said orifices Iceing relatively so arranged that each pair of ad- 7 3 joining streams intersect one another at points spaced uniformly from the discharge orifices in said head, and a deflection disk carried by the end cal streams by the suction induced in said suction zone, said means including a plurality of open- 3 ings in said disk communicating with said suction 1 zone.

3. A fire extinguishing nozzle comprising an 3 internally chambered nozzle head having an inlet for the introduction of liquid under pressure, said head also having a plurality of discharge orifices j uniformly spaced about the central axis thereof toreffe'ct the outward projection from said head of a plurality of conical streams of finely atom- 1 ized liquid in such manner that adjoining pairs of 1 said streams intersect one another at points uniformly spaced from said orifices, and a deflection I disk carried by the end ofthe head, said disk 1 being so arranged that the peripheral portion thereof intercepts said conical streams in a flat 1 plane throughout a circumferentially continuous annular zone spaced radially from said discharge orifices, said disk being provided with a plurality of openings therein spaced inwardly of said an- 1 nular zone of contact of the streams with said disk.

4. A fire extinguishing nozzle comprising an internally chambered nozzle head having an inlet for the introduction of liquid under pressure, said 1 head also having a plurality of discharge orifices spaced about the central axis thereof to effect the I outward'projection from said head of a plurality i of conical streams of finely atomized liquid in such manner that adjoining pairs of said streams intersect one another at points uniformly spaced from said orifices,-a pair of deflection disks respectively secured to opposite ends of said head in embracing relation with respect to said streams, said disks each being arranged to contact said streams in a flat Plane throughout a circumferentially continuous annular zone rad? ia-lly spaced from said discharge orifices, whereby to create a suction zone inwardly of said annular zone of contact and between said pair of disks.

' 5. A fire extinguishing nozzle comprising an 7 I internally chambered nozzle head having an inlet for the introduction of liquid underpressure, said head also having a plurality of discharge orifices spaced about the central axis thereof to effect the outward projection from said head of a pluralityof conical streams of finely atomized liquid in such manner that adjoining pairsof said streams intersect one another at points uniformly spaced from said orifices, a pair of deflection disks respectively secured to opposite ends of said head in embracing relation with respect to said streams, said disks "each being arranged to contact said streams in a fiat plane throughout a circumferentially continuous annular zone radially spaced fromsaid discharge orifices, whereby to create a suction zone inwardly of said annular zone of contact and between said pair of disks, at least one of said disks being provided with openings therein in communication with said suction zone to permit the entrainment of air from atmosphere into said conical streams by the suction induced in said suction zone.

" 6. A fire extinguishing nozzle comprising an internally chambered nozzle head having an inlet for the introduction of liquid under pressure, said head also having a plurality of discharge orifices spaced about the central axis thereof to effect the outward projection from said head of a plurality of conical streams of finely atomized liquid in such manner that adjoining pairs of said streams intersect one another at points uniformly spaced from said orifices, a pair of deflection disksrespectively secured to opposite ends of said head in embracing relation with respect to said streams, said disks each being arranged to contact said streams in a flat plane throughout a circumferentially continuous annular zone radially spaced from said discharge orifices, whereby to create a suction zone inwardly of said annular zone of contact and between said pair of disks,

one of said disks being of smaller diameter than the cther'to provide a narrower annular contact zone on one coplanar side of the conical streams.

- PAUL J. SCHULTZ.

REFERENSES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 221,617 Schier Nov. 11, 1879 1,529,531 7 Young Mar. 10, 1925 1,541,648 Haueisen June 9, 1925 1,778,994 Allen Oct. 21, 1930 1,964,225 Sumner June 26, 1934 275,124 Blumenberg et a1. l Apr. 3, 1883 877,785 Linhofi Jan. 28, 1908 1,967,304 Gray July 24, 1934 1,812,356 Mills June 30, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 512,544 German Sept. 18, 1927 

